Built-up structure of glass or the like.



H. B. OBERHACKE. BUILT UP STRUCTURE OF GLASS OR THE LIKE.IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Fm. 1912.

1,1581%. I Patented 001;. 26, 1915.

HENRY B. OBERHACKE, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

BUILT-UP STRUCTURE O13 GLASS OR THE LIKE.

LLiSld-it.

Application filed September 3, 1912.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY B. UBERHAGKE, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Los Angeles, in the countyof Los Angeles and State of California, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Built Up Structures of Glass or the like, ofwhich he following isa specification.

This invention relates to built-up glass construction having a pluralityof sheets or pieces or sections or panes of glass, held together toconstitute the complete formation,

such as a window, glass panel, lamp shade or the like. In accordancewith present practice such glass sheets or panes are held together byconnecting strips or joining strips known as cames, of lead, tin, solderor other flexible or soft'metal. Strips are extended along the cames inthe lines of unction between the several glass sections or panes. Thesestrips are usually made of lead or other soft metal, and it results thatthe total composite or built-up glass structure is inherently weal: andflexible and easily bent or caused to bulge or warp: and an applicationof extreme heat would cause the cames of lead, and the narrow stripextending along the cames at the lines of the joints, to melt,permitting the glass sections to fall apart. I introduce further factorsof rigidity and inherent strength in such composite or builtup glassstructures, associating with the cames means for providing suchstructures with inherent rigidity, and means for producing decorativeeffect or design by providing a configuration or formation of the meansapplied to the cames to produce such inherent strength or rigidity ofthe structure. It is true that diversified patterns of such cames oflead or like strips over them have been produced, but no definiteconfiguration of themeans for strengthening the structures, consistingof varying the width and conformation of such means, has heretofore, tomy knowledge, been provided.

In accordance with my invention, 1 utilize cames of ordinary or modifiedor mutilated form, as will be requisite or expedient best to utilize theinvention, and at either one or both faces of the built-up glassstructure I provide laterally extended strips which are connected withthe cames and lie along the faces of the composite glass structure, atthe points between the individual panes; such strips being susceptibleof con Specification of Letters Patent.

7 Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

Serial No. 718,327.

figuration in themselves, by variation of dimension, so as to produceartistic and highly attractive and decorative designs upon the built-upglass structure. Such strips are formed of hard relatively inflexible orrigid material, whereas the cames themselves may be and preferably areof soft material such as solder or lead. The reinforcing strips maysuitably be formed of brass, steel or other hard metal upon which asuitable formation or surface may be provided. The complete compositestructure, with the reinforcing strips held to the cames and firmlypressed against the faces of the glass sections at and beyond thejoints, is of great inherent strength, and cannot be bent, buc kled orwarped under anything but the most excessive pressures or stresses. Eventhe application of excessive heat which might melt the cames, wouldstill leave the glass sections held firmly between the reinforcmg stripsor systems of strips so as to prevent the falling apart and breaking ofthe sections. In expensive art glass construction such saving is ofmaterial value. The reinforcing strips are, in practice, contorted orconfigured or elaborated in shape and dimensions so as to produceartistic, beautiful and decorative designs, which highly enhance thebeauty and attractiveness and value of the built-up glass structure.

It will be seen from the above that I produce a built-up glass structurewhich constitutes a novel article of manufacture or product, which,while possessing great inherent strength and rigidity, impossible to beobtained with the ordinary weak pliable cames alone, or with such camesplus the soft pliable bead strips or wires which have been appliedthereto, is at the same time of an enhanced beauty and attractivenessbecause of the provision of decorative design in the formation of thehard, rigid inflexible strengthening strips applied to the canoesproper. came alone, or do not rely upon a new came as the essentialfeature of my improvements, but provide a new composite structurecomprising glass sections, cames, and decorative, strengthening andreinforcing relatively broad strips applied to the cames, all as aboveset forth and hereinafter specifically described with reference to theaccompanying drawing.

The invention has manifestly for its ob I therefore do not provide a newjects the provision of a novel built-up glass construction which will besuperior in point of inherent strength and rigidity and durability,freedom from liability of fracture or breakage or damage by heat or thelike i11- fluence, beauty and attractiveness and decorativeness ofappearance, and length of life, combined with inexpensiveness andsimplicity taken inconsideration with the other objects and features. I

In the drawing: Figure l is a fragmentary face view of a composite glassstructure constructed and organized in accordance with the invention;Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view illustrating the method of assemblage ofthe features shown in Fig. 1'; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view ofportions of glass sections showing the method of uniting the same withthe said cames and the reinforcing or strengthening strips on bothsides; Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the reinforcing or strengtheningstrip upon but one side of the glass sections;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the reinforcing andstrengthening strips omitted; and Fig. 6 is a sectional view oftwocames, one constructed according to present day practice, and the othermodified in construction in accordance with the invention.

Corresponding parts inall the figures are designated by the samereference characters.

Referringwith particularity to the drawing, A designates a section orpane of glass, in each instance, a plurality of the same be ing heldtogether by cames a. preferably of lead or other soft material and whichare shown as having thin laterally projecting edge flanges 9, at one orboth edges, in substitution for the beads 7 usually provided at theedges of such cames. iVhere but one such flange 9 is provided, a bead 8similar to the usual beads 7 may be employed at the other edge of thecame.

l0-designates in eachinstance one of the reinforcing or strengtheningstrips applied to the cames or respective came a, over the line ofjunction between the sections A between which the respective came isinserted."

Each such strip is preferably of brass, steel or other rigid andapproximately inflexible material, and is applied to the came byfloating or soldering it on to the soft metal of the came so that thetwo metals are caused to firmly adhere. The cames a are shown as comingtogether at various junction points, as at 11, and over'these junctionpoints disks or decorative rigid bodies 12 of the same material as thestrips 1O, may be placed, being floated or soldered on to and caused toadhere to the cames which converge at such meeting points 11, thereinforcing strips 10 and the disks 12 extending materially over thesurface or surfaces of the glass sections, in close contact laterally ofthe marginal portions of the sections which abut against the cames (1,.Being rigidly held to the cames, such strips 1.0 or disks l2 bearpositively upon the sections and hold them firmly in positions ofassemblage, against any possibility of distortion, separating, bucklingor relative movement whatsoever. Such strips 10 and disks 12 may beapplied at both faces of the sections A, as shown in Fig. 3, or at oneface of the sections, as shown in Fig. l, and such disks or strips arefloated or soldered on to and caused to adhere to the thin flanges 9projecting laterally of the cames at the edge or edges thereof.

Thereinforcing strips 10 and disks 12 are not confined merely to thelines of junction of the glass sections, as stated, but extendmaterially over the surface thereof, at one or both sides, so as toeffectively bind the sections together in a rigid frame or framescomposed of metallic members of non-yielding quality as stated. Suchlateral extension of the strips and disks is featured by configurationor design with decorative ends in view, as suggested by the simpleshowing in Figs. 1 and of the drawii'ig. It is manifest that suchvariation of width or dimensions of such strips and disks may be causedto conform to elaborate design, producing highly artistic effects thusresultant upon the pie-determined dimensions and Yariations ofdimensions of the strips and disks.

The thin edge flanges 9 of the cames are provided merely to hold thesections in assemblage prior to the application of the strips 10. Theholding function is performed by the said strips and the cames or websof the cames between the meeting edges after the strips havebeen appliedto the cames; and such flanges 9 are not intended to resist strainstending to separate or displace the sections, excepting during theprocess of assemblage of the parts. Thus, if I desire, I may use aharder substance or material for the cames than is possible in presentday practice, in which the cames have the heavy beads 7 which militatesagainst bending of the cames to adapt them to irregular edgeconformations of the sections A.

It is manifest that within the realm of the invention I may widely varythe materials and substances, and the form and dimensions, of the partsand features entering into the invention, and I therefore do not deysire that the invention be construed with limitation to any unnecessaryor unwarrantably specific features or aspects pertinent to theembodiment thereof.

Having thus described my invention I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patout:

1. As an improved article of manufac ture,'a built up structurecomprising a plurality of separate sections of glass or the like, softand flexible cames fitted between the adjacent edges thereof andpermitting the sections to be relatively adjusted or fitted togetherprior to final assemblage due to the flexibility of the cames, andstrips of hard laterally inflexible material applied to and connectedwith the cames and extending materially beyond the adjacent edges ofabutting sections in both directions and in superficial contact with thesections over the edges thereof at both sides of the cames and wherebythe sections are held rigidly against movement; said strips being of adefinitely varied width or conformation as predetermined wherebydecorative design is produced. v

2. As an improved article of manufacture, a built-up structurecomprising a plurality of separate sections of glass or the like,softand flexible cames fitted between the adjacent edges thereof andpermitting the sections to be relatively adjusted or fitted togetherprior to final assemblage due to the flexibility of the cames, andstrips of hard laterally inflexible material applied to and connectedwith the cames and extending materially beyond the adjacent edges ofabutting sections in both directions and in superficial contact with thesections over the edges thereof at both sides of the cames and at bothfaces of the sections and whereby the sections are held rigidly againstmovement; said strips being of definitely varied width or conformationas predetermined whereby decorative design is produced; and, whereby thesections connected by the cames are rigidly held together in anunyielding frame preventing buckling or distortion.

3. As an improved article of manufacture, a built-up structurecomprising a plurality of separate sections of glass or the like,flexible cames fitted between the adjacent edges thereof and permittingthe sections to be relatively adjusted or fitted together prior to finalassemblage due to the flexibility of the cames, and strips of hardlaterally inflexible material applied to and connected with the camesand extending materially be yond the adjacent edges of abutting sectionsin both directions and in superficial contact with the sections over theedges thereof at both sides of the cames and whereby the sections areheld rigidly against movement.

4. A built up glass structure including a series of glass sections,cames interposed between adjacent edges of the glass sections and formedof soft pliable metal, said cames being provided at one edge with a thinlateral flange for temporarily holding the glass sections, flat facedreinforcing strips of harder metal floated upon the thinly flanged edgesof the webs of the cames so as to project laterally over and be infacial contact with theedge portions of the glass sections and hold thesame rigidly in position, and disk members of the harder metal floatedupon the intersections of the cames and connecting adjacent ends of thereinforcing strips.

Signed at the city of Los Angeles, county of Los Angeles, State ofCalifornia, this 10th day of February, 1912.

HENRY B. OBERHAOKE.

Witnesses;

JOHN TUMLER, J. S. ZERBE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0.

